Lee Westwood continued his assault on the European order of merit by shooting a 63 in the opening round of the Scandinavian Masters yesterday.

World number five Westwood's eight-under-par return would have broken the two-year-old course record by two strokes, but preferred lies were in operation at soaking Kungsangen.

Due to the conditions, the players were permitted to pick the ball up and clean it before replacing it, which invalidates any course records.

Westwood carded an eagle and seven birdies, including four in his last five holes, to forge a two-shot lead over the field.

Japan's Katsuyoshi Tomori was alone in second after a six-under 65, Spain's Diego Borrego and Swede Olle Karlsson are on five under and former Ryder Cup player David Gilford is in a group of players a shot further back.

Defending champion Colin Montgomerie had a promising start to the tournament with a round of 68.

Westwood has been in superb form recently, with seven topfive placings - including three wins - in his last eight tournaments. But he was taking nothing for granted in the battle for the £164,000 first prize that could take him top of the Order of Merit.

"With players like Jesper (Parnevik), Monty and Darren (Clarke) playing, I don't turn up expecting to win because some weeks the putts don't go in.

"I turn up knowing I should have a good chance if I play as well as I can from tee to green and putt well. It's far too early to think about winning yet, a lot can happen over 54 holes."

Westwood's priority now will be to get the traditional drink out of close friend Clarke after the Irishman's hole-in-one in Wednesday's pro-am. Clarke fired a 62 on that occasion but had to settle for a 69 yesterday.

"I love it when he shoots 62 on Wednesdays," Westwood joked. "I'm sure that win in the pro-am has gone straight on his CV. But he didn't even buy me a drink for the hole in one that I found out about after he'd gone to bed."

Montgomerie had been disillusioned with his putting after the Open championship at St Andrews, where he finished well adrift of winner Tiger Woods.

But armed with a new grip and a stone lighter into the bargain, the world number four was round in three-under-par, the only blemish on his scorecard a bogey six on the fifth hole.

Still suffering the effects of a migraine that forced him to pull out of the pro-am halfway through, Montgomerie said: "I putted a wee bit better and it's a decent start. The six on the fifth was disappointing because I hit a great drive and had only a three iron in but missed the green, chipped up and three putted."

Like Montgomerie, Gilford had lost weight this season but not through choice or necessity. He picked up a virus in Dubai while practising earlier this year and was laid low for several weeks, only making his debut on tour at the end of April.

Now back to full fitness, Gilford carded five birdies and one bogey and has not given up hope of making a third Ryder Cup appearance at the Belfry next year.

Local favourite Jesper Parnevik, seeking a hat-trick of wins on home soil, could only manage a 71. Ryder Cup vicecaptain Ian Woosnam scored a 72 while New Zealander Michael Campbell birdied three of the last four holes in his 69.